Communication is an essential skill in the workplace and they are vital to success because they allow us to effectively convey our messages and ideas.
If we can’t communicate well, then we won’t be as effective as leaders and managers, strong communication skills will make you more persuasive, give you a competitive edge, and help you get ahead. Don’t let your communication skills hold you back; it’s not always easy to improve your communication skills but here are some tips for how you can start today!
Nonverbal Communication is a Critical as Verbal Communication Skills
The way you communicate nonverbally will make or break your message and you can use gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact to help reinforce your message and show that you are engaged and interested in the conversation.
It may be more obvious when you consider how often body language is misinterpreted wherein body language accounts for up to 93% of the message that we send with our words and even if someone doesn’t know what you’re talking about, they might still get a sense of your feelings from the expression on your face.
So, it’s important to always have good posture, maintain eye contact, be aware of your gestures, and speak with a confident voice to clearly communicate your message.
Guidelines for Being a Better Communicator
One of the best ways to improve your communication skills is bycommunication training as well as practicing, you may feel like you’re not a strong communicator, but that doesn’t mean you can’t become stronger.
Every day, practice speaking with people and sharing information with them and it’s one of the fastest ways to improve your skills.
Another way you can get better at communicating is by breaking a big task into smaller parts. For example, if you want to give feedback to someone on their performance, break down what they did well and what they could improve on in a list before delivering the feedback.
The person will be more receptive because they know exactly where you’re coming from and practicing this technique will help prepare for difficult conversations and make it easier in the future when you have to give difficult feedback.
Some people also find it helpful to have someone else listen as they speak and give feedback on what needs improvement so that they can learn from their mistakes quickly and this can be done through professional coaching or even a friend or family member who is willing to offer input on how their message was received.
Each person will have a different way that they improve their communication skills and there are many ways to do this, but here are some of the most popular techniques:
- Reading books about communication
- Talking with friends and family members
- Practicing public speaking
- Watching videos of lessons on effective communication
